Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters
Defense News: Trump administration: Troops can stay in Iraq, Syria indefinitely
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has the legal authority to keep U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria indefinitely, Pentagon and State Department officials said in a pair of letters released this week.
The letters detail the Trump administration’s plan for an open-ended mission for U.S. forces, beyond the fight against the Islamic State group. The letters — first reported by The New York Times — were to Virginia Democrat Sen. Tim Kaine, an advocate for a replacement for the post-9/11 war authorizations for the use of military force.
The letters come amid various efforts from congressional Republicans and Democrats to have Congress approve a new authorization, or AUMF. Kaine and other critics argue the White House’s use of authorizations from a decade and half ago is a legal stretch. He called on Trump to seek a new authorization.
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WNU editor: Iraq is still unstable .... Iraq’s ethnic, religious groups fragmented as elections near (AP), and Syria is beyond repair. So yes .... why is the White House committed to keeping U.S. soldiers there indefinitely .... Why Are U.S. Troops Staying in Syria? The Trump Administration Won’t Say (Jonah Shepp, NYMag). If there is ever a debate that the U.S. should have right now .... it is this one.
